Sochi medal contender has enthusiastic set of fans in Elkhart

If you've followed the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, you may have heard of him.

But Chan is more than just a gold medal contender for Canada in men's figure skating. Sure, he's a three-time world champion and has spent the last four years at the pinnacle of his sport after finishing fifth in the Vancouver Winter Olympics.

To my wife, Annette, and I, he's also Patrick, the 7-year-old boy who stole hearts at my wedding reception.

In 1997, Patrick and his parents, my cousin, Lewis, and wife Karen were guests at our reception in Elkhart. I didn't know Patrick or his parents well. We saw Patrick's grandfather — my uncle — and other relatives who lived in northern Indiana often. We were honored that he and his family traveled from Toronto. Seeing Patrick's parents made our reception a bit like a family reunion.

So what happened at the reception that so endeared Patrick to us? Patrick showed the confidence and charm that the rest of the world would see a decade later. He asked my mother-in-law to dance, and they did. Patrick may not have many fans in Ohio, but his biggest has to be Sally Emlong in Wooster, Ohio.

In 2010, we watched with pride as Patrick skated to a fifth-place finish. On Thursday and Friday, my wife and my daughters and my mother — Patrick's great aunt — will be glued to our TVs and rooting for the gold medal for which he has worked so hard.